The Bill Press Pod

Latest Episodes:

Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department with Investigative Reporters Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis. Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Bill Press Pod, Bill speaks with Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis about their new book, Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department. They discuss the transformation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration, highlighting how it shifted focus to serve Trump's political and personal agendas. The conversation covers significant actions taken by the DOJ, such as targeting political adversaries, unprecedented raids on journalists, and the controversial handling of the FBI's investigation into Trump's classified documents. They also delve into how the Biden administration's DOJ, led by Merrick Garland, hesitated in taking swift action against Trump after January 6th and their overall cautious approach to investigating Trump, which may have impacted public trust. The discussion explores the lasting damage to the DOJ's credibility and the challenges of restoring public confidence in the face of a divided nation. You can get a copy of their great book here, Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.

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"A Remarkable Moment in American History." The Reporters' Roundtable. January 16, 2026 Jan 16, 2026

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Minneapolis vs ICE. Insurrection Act Coming? “Wine Moms” Protesting. Trump’s Threats to Greenland/NATO. Clintons in Contempt? With Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter for NOTUS, Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at HuffPost and Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent at 19th News.

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Donald Trump’s Lawless New World Order. With National Security Analyst Joe Cirincione. Jan 13, 2026

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In this episode, Bill talks with Joe Cirincione, an expert on global security. And the unofficial foreign policy guru of The Bill Press Pod. He and Bill discuss the situations in Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, Iran, Ukraine, Gaza and Minnesota. Cirincione discusses the challenges faced in global security caused by Trump and provides insights into how good policy can shape a safer world. Which is not what’s happening now. To follow Joe's great work, go to JoeCirincione.substack.com .

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers and their powerful leader, President Randi Weingarten. More information at AFT.org.

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" It's an upside down world we are living in." The Reporters' Roundtable. January 9, 2026 Jan 09, 2026

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The Killing of Renee Good. Is There Accountability? Trump More Unconstrained. Some GOP Backlash. Venezuela: Keep the Oil. New Spheres of Influence. Is Greenland Next? ACA Subsidies Pass the House. Impeachment Coming? With Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, Philip Bump, MS-Now Columnist and Contributor and author of the How to Read This Chart Newsletter and Igor Bobic, Senior Politics Reporter at HuffPost.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org.

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Beyond Anti-Trump: The Need for a Democratic Vision. With Faiz Shakir Jan 06, 2026

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In this episode Bill reconnects with Faiz Shakir to discuss the situation in Venezuela and its potential political impact on the U.S. They critique the law-of-the-jungle approach and its consequences for international stability and U.S. foreign policy. They then shift to the political landscape leading up to the 2026 midterms, analyzing the implications of the Trump administration's actions and the Democrats' chances of regaining control of the House and Senate. Shakir emphasizes the need for Democrats to offer an alternative vision beyond merely opposing Trump, focusing on issues like healthcare, AI, labor rights, and economic justice. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of grassroots media and the role of Shakir's new media organization, More Perfect Union, in telling workers' stories and challenging elite narratives.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers’ International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org

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Rating Donald Trump 2.0. With Historian Douglas Brinkley. Jan 02, 2026

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In this episode historian Doug Brinkley discusses the unprecedented ways in which Donald Trump has pushed the boundaries of presidential power. Brinkley compares Trump's actions to historic moments, such as FDR's attempts to pack the Supreme Court and Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, but notes that Trump's use of executive orders and his ability to intimidate fellow Republicans is unparalleled. The episode covers Trump’s potential to weaponize the National Guard for political gains, his circumvention of legal authority, and the broader implications for American democracy. Brinkley expresses optimism for the future but warns of the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as AI and deep fakes.

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Democracy, Foreign Policy and Journalism in Trump 2.0. With Peter Baker and Susan Glasser. Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Bill Press Pod taken from of Bill’s live event, 'Talk of the Hill,' Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times and Susan Glasser who writes the online column "Letter from Trump's Washington" in The New Yorker, where she is a staff writer. They discuss their experiences and insights into modern journalism, particularly during the Trump presidency. The discussion delves into how Donald Trump has reshaped the presidency and American politics, as well as his administration's impact on national and international affairs, including the situation in Venezuela and Russia. They also touch on media challenges, highlighting the intimidation tactics used by Trump against journalists and media outlets. The conversation concludes with a brief update on their upcoming book focused on Vladimir Putin and recent updates on their son's impactful journalism career.

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Unmasking the "Christian" Right. With John Fugelsang Dec 26, 2025

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In this episode, Bill talks with John Fugelsang about his new book, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. The discussion focuses on what it really means to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and critiques the hypocrisy of the religious right. Fugelsang argues that fundamentalists have hijacked Christianity, using it to justify hateful and exclusionary policies while ignoring the core messages of Jesus about love, humility, and service to others. He also addresses hot-button issues like abortion, immigration, and LGBTQ rights, tying each back to scripture to expose the contradictions in right-wing Christian rhetoric. The conversation ends by highlighting progressive Christians and leaders who are working to reclaim Christianity from the clutches of fundamentalism.

You can purchase his great book here.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.

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Challenges for the Media in Trump 2.0. The Editors'' Year-end Roundtable. December 23, 2025 Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Bill discusses the challenges faced by the media during Donald Trump's second term with Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief of CQ-Roll Call, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of The National Journal and Sudeep Reddy formerly a Managing Editor at Politico and now Washington Bureau Chief for MS-Now, the renamed MSNBC. The discussion covers the unprecedented actions taken by Trump, including pardoning January 6th participants, issuing over 200 executive orders, and waging an illegal war in the Caribbean. The editors also examine the pressures faced by the media, including the controversy surrounding CBS News under the leadership of Bari Weiss and how to handle the spread of misinformation. Additionally, they discuss the changes in local media coverage, the role of the press in maintaining democracy, and the difficulty in covering both the Trump administration and Congress.

Today. Bill highlights the work of Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen and urges our listeners to consider supporting it with a donation. Check out all the places and people they are helping at WCK.org.

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"People are pissed." The Reporters' Roundtable. December 19, 2025 Dec 19, 2025

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Trump Unraveling? Too Many Deportations? “Affordability” Sticking. Trump’s Speeches. Why Did Susie Wiles Talk? MTG’s Strategy. Congress’ Very Bad Year. Dem’s 2026 Senate Chances. With Kirk Bado, Editor, National Journal Hotline, Jennifer Bendery, Reporter for HuffPost covering Congress, Trump and authoritarianism, Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors Editor at The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Sam Brodey, National Political Reporter for The Boston Globe.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org

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